Eyes of the Beast
328 Words
The palace was colder than Aria had imagined. Marble floors stretched endlessly beneath towering pillars, and flickering torchlight cast long, haunting shadows across the halls. She walked silently behind a stern-faced maid, clutching the thin fabric of her travel-worn dress, heart pounding with each echoing step.
When they reached the grand chamber, a heavy wooden door loomed before her. The maid hesitated, then knocked sharply.
“Enter,” a voice commanded from within.
Aria’s breath caught as she pushed the door open.
Inside stood Prince Damien — taller than she expected, his figure cloaked in darkness and mystery. His skin was pale, almost luminous, and his eyes glinted with an intensity that made her feel both exposed and mesmerized. There was something not quite human about him, something wild beneath the refined exterior.
He studied her with a quiet, piercing gaze. “You are Aria Weston,” he said, voice low and smooth. “Do you understand what you are about to become?”
She swallowed hard. “I—I don’t know.”
A faint smile curved his lips — almost predatory. “You will learn. Soon enough.”
For a moment, silence hung between them like a thick fog.
Then he stepped closer, his presence overwhelming.
“Tonight is not just the beginning of your new life, but the end of your innocence.”
Aria’s heart raced. Fear, confusion, and a strange thrill swirled inside her. She wanted to run, to scream, but something rooted her to the spot.
Damien’s eyes softened for a moment, almost regretful. “Do not mistake my intentions. This is not cruelty. It is necessity.”
Before she could respond, he turned and strode toward the window, looking out over the city below, a flicker of shadow crossing his face.
Aria realized this was a man bound by secrets darker than she could guess — and she was now entwined in his dangerous world, whether she wanted to be or not.
- Writer
